Compania Petrolera Del Atlantico, it's the Guatemalan oil exploration company that the government authorized to conduct oil tests in southern Belize by installing what are called geophone cables. But SATIIM and the Alcaldes Association say that what's happening on the ground is a national disgrace. They have sent a letter to the Prime Minister signed by dozens of village leaders complaining about the exploratory work that's being done. Greg Choq today brought pictures and told us why he's very upset.
Greg Choq,
"We're talking about least thirty to
fifty Guatemalan men working with no kind of supervision inside Belize. They go into Guatemala they come back into Belize, they go into Guatemala they come back into Belize."
Jules Vasquez,
What do you make of this? How can this be happening?
Greg Choq,
"That's the question I ask myself. Where is the rule of law? Where is the regulation, the process, that every Belizean is supposed to abide by?"
Jules Vasquez,
They've been authorized.
Greg Choq,
"That might be the case Jules but having thirty to fifty Guatemalan men operating inside Belize, what message are you sending to the neighboring communities among the Guatemalan border that have consistently encroach on Belize to extract resources. It is a major problem for those of us working along the Guatemalan border.
The challenge here is for me and what I am trying to understand is when a foreigner comes into Belize, or you go into a country, there are designated points of entry. There is the designated port of country for every country and there are specific laws and regulations that guide a foreigner coming into this country and what I see is, in regards to this arrangement, it's a total disregard and blatant disrespect and violation of those immigration laws because these guys don't report to Punta Gorda then go to Belize to work. They come right from Guatemala into Belize as if though they own the place.
It is a major national security threat to this country. I say that because the absence of any state agency to provide minimal supervision, minimal monitoring is absolutely outrageous.
It is not surprising at all considering the path that this country is going through, is going through with all that has happened over the last two years or more so over the last couple months. It seems that there is a breakdown in our government structures, a breakdown in all levels of our society, especially in the system of governance."
Jules Vasquez,
You will be able to understand that they might say we can't help you this week, we are in a little crisis here?
Greg Choq,
"So if we have Guatemalan troops massing along the Belizean border, are you telling me the government will say we have a $30 million crisis here? I mean the message we are sending the Guatemalan communities along the border is one that many Belizeans fear, that we are giving unfettered access to Belizean resources and Belizean land to the Guatemalans."
Choq says the Guatemalan workers have not entered the Sarstun Temash National Park but if and when they do the communities and his rangers will resist them.
